Rye holiday parade features cast of characters

RYE — More than 100 people braved a chilly, sunless Sunday afternoon to watch the town's annual holiday parade march through the downtown.

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By Jeff McMenemy

seacoastonline.com

By Jeff McMenemy

Posted Dec. 9, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Jeff McMenemy
Posted Dec. 9, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

RYE — More than 100 people braved a chilly, sunless Sunday afternoon to watch the town's annual holiday parade march through the downtown.

The parade featured an appearance by Santa Claus riding on the back of a Rye fire truck, the Rye Junior High School marching band, staff from the Rye Public Library dressed as characters from "Little Women," and a slew of police and fire vehicles.

Other notable participants included Police Chief Kevin Walsh throwing candy to spectators as he walked down Washington Road, men riding antique tractors, several Cub Scout troops and a float by A Merrie Sweepe Chimney Service out of Greenland that included a chimney.

Brianne Moore, of Greenland, attended the parade Sunday with her 3-year-old daughter, Kaelyn, who received a host of candy from people marching in the parade, along with a stuffed teddy bear.

"It's a really nice parade for children," Moore said as she stood out in front of the library as the parade wrapped up. "It was perfect."

Dick McKenney of Rye carried around a sign advertising an upcoming caroling event the library is holding on Dec. 20.

He said Sunday's parade was exactly the type one would expect to see in a small town.

"It's a standard Santa Claus and fire trucks parade," McKenney said. "It's a great event for the town."

McKenney said, considering the cold temperatures Sunday, he was impressed by the turnout.

"It's a cold Sunday, there's a Patriots game going on, so I think it's a good turnout," he said.

Mary Louise Gerkin of North Hampton, who was bundled up for the cold, said she has been coming to the parade for the past seven or eight years.

"There's not that many people here yet, but when it starts up, this whole area will fill up," Gerkin said just a few minutes before the start of the parade.

The parade ended at the Rye Junior High School, where Santa Claus handed out candy to children and parents could take pictures of their kids with Santa.